Redskins Roundup: RG3 is a go!

Written by Thomas Threlkeld on Saturday, 22 December 2012 08:46. Posted in Washington Redskins

Head coach Mike Shanahan gives QB Robert Griffin III [sprained knee] a 98% chance to play in Philadelphia tomorrow. I like those odds. Officially, RG3 is listed as "probable."

RT Tyler Polumbus, who missed much of the win against Cleveland with a concussion was returned to practice yesterday, though he was limited. C Will Montgomery also practiced, so it looks like the Skins might have their regular offensive line against Philadelphia. Polumbus will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game, but if he can't play the Skins will probably turn to OG Maurice Hurt or OT Tom Compton, neither of whom have ever played a down in the NFL at right tackle. That could be a problem against what is actually a very talented Eagles defensive line. ILBs London Fletcher [ankle] and Lorenzo Alexander [shoulder] were not seen practicing yesterday. I assume Fletcher will play because he always does. Dunno about Alexander.

Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett says he seeks no praise for the improvements the Redskins have shown on defense recently. Nevertheless, I'm sure he likes it and I know he deserves it. WIth very little pass rush or secondary talent to work with, Haslett has somehow cobbled together a semi-respectable group that regularly gets torched in the passing game, but somehow shrugs it off and comes back to make plays later in the game. No one will ever confuse it with a good defense. Right now, the Redskins are just hoping it will be good enough.

Give Haslett credit for making some nice in-game adjustments:

In the past three games, the Redskins allowed an average of 135.3 yards and 5.7 points in the second half after surrendering 211.3 yards and 16 points in the first. If they performed like that for 60 minutes, they’d have the top defense in the NFL.

Rich Tandler points out two neat stats:

--Alfred Morris needs 195 rushing yards to break the team record of 1516 held by Clinton Portis. He set that record during the Redskins’ playoff run in 2005. Morris needs to average 97.5 yards per game to get the record, just above his season average of 94 yards per game.

--The Redskins have scored 381 points in 14 games. Just once since their 1991 Super Bowl season have they put up more points than that for a full 16 game season. That was in 1999 when they scored 443. If the Redskins can average 32 points in their last two games they will push past that 1999 total and become the highest-scoring Redskins team in over 20 years.

Rich also notes that the Skins can go from worst to first in the NFC East if they win out. That's actually quite common in the NFL -- some team has gone from worst to first in its division the last nine years. However, it would be the first time the Skins have done it.

For the Skins to win out they'll need to win 7 seven straight games. Dan Daly notes the Skins have won 7 straight only four times and each time the team went on to big things:

• 1991 — Won their first 11. Finished 14-2 (best in the NFL). Beat Buffalo in the Super Bowl.

• 1983 — Won their last nine in the regular season and two in the playoffs for a total of 11. Finished 14-2 (best in the NFL). Lost the Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Raiders.

• 1942 — Won their last 10 counting the championship game. Finished 10-1 (best in the East Division). Beat the Chicago Bears for the title.

• 1972 — Won nine straight. Finished 11-3 (best in the NFC). Lost the Super Bowl to Miami.

Colleges are doin ga good job of emulating pro-style offenses and that's improving the NFL-ready quality of young quarterbacks, according to some who follow the game. Eagles coach Andy Reid believes the 2012 crop of rookie quarterbacks will be as good or better than any draft ever. The Redskins have to feel pretty good about their QB haul this year, bringing in two rookies who have won eight games.

There is always good stuff in John Keim's mailbag. Check it out.

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